diff --git a/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte b/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte
index d83ac41..dbb4c65 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 	let { room, link, copied, copyLink }: { room: Room; link: string; copied: boolean; copyLink: () => void } = $props();
 
 	const v = $derived(room.view);
+	/** The host asked to begin while a seat is still held for someone on their way. */
+	let beginAsked = $state(false);
 	const hostName = $derived(v.seats.find((s) => s.id === v.host)?.name ?? 'the host');
 	const keeperSeated = $derived(v.seats.some((s) => s.name.toLowerCase() === v.keeper.toLowerCase()));
 
@@ -67,8 +69,12 @@
 			{#if room.seatEmpty && room.isHost}
 				<button type="button" class="quiet" onclick={() => room.addBot()}>Seat a housecarl</button>
 			{/if}
-			{#if room.isHost}
-				<button type="button" class="commit small" disabled={v.seats.length < 2} onclick={() => room.begin()}>Begin</button>
+			{#if room.isHost && beginAsked && v.expected.length > 0}
+				<span>A seat is held for {v.expected.join(' and ')}, who {v.expected.length === 1 ? 'has' : 'have'} not arrived. The seat goes once the game begins.</span>
+				<button type="button" class="commit small" onclick={() => room.begin()}>Begin without them</button>
+				<button type="button" class="link" onclick={() => (beginAsked = false)}>wait</button>
+			{:else if room.isHost}
+				<button type="button" class="commit small" disabled={v.seats.length < 2} onclick={() => (v.expected.length > 0 ? (beginAsked = true) : room.begin())}>Begin</button>
 				<span class="muted">{v.seats.length < 2 ? 'once a second player is seated' : `with ${v.seats.length} players`}</span>
 			{:else}
 				<span class="muted">{hostName} will begin when the table is ready.</span>
diff --git a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
index 92c9c8b..2c62bc0 100644
--- a/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/join/[code]/+page.svelte
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@
 {#if watching && room?.started && !room.view.over}
 	<div class="notice muted">
 		{#if seatLost}<p>{seatLost} Claim it here, or <a href="mailto:eric@ericwagoner.com?subject={encodeURIComponent(`My seat in room ${roomId}`)}">write to the keeper</a>.</p>
-		{:else}<p>Had a seat at this table? Ask the host for a transfer phrase, or make one on the device that still holds the seat, and claim it here. Or <a href="mailto:eric@ericwagoner.com?subject={encodeURIComponent(`My seat in room ${roomId}`)}">write to the keeper</a> for a link that brings it back.</p>{/if}
+		{:else}{#if room.view.expected.length > 0}<p>{room.nameOf(room.view.host)} began the game before {room.view.expected.join(' and ')} arrived, and the seat held for {room.view.expected.length === 1 ? 'them' : 'each'} went with it.</p>{/if}
+			<p>Had a seat at this table? Ask the host for a transfer phrase, or make one on the device that still holds the seat, and claim it here. Or <a href="mailto:eric@ericwagoner.com?subject={encodeURIComponent(`My seat in room ${roomId}`)}">write to the keeper</a> for a link that brings it back.</p>{/if}
 		<form class="sit" onsubmit={claim}>
 			<input type="text" bind:value={claimPhrase} placeholder="the four-word phrase" autocomplete="off" aria-label="transfer phrase" />
 			<button type="submit" class="quiet" disabled={claiming || claimPhrase.trim().split(/[\s-]+/).length < 4}>Claim the seat</button>